Stripper arrangement for a printing machine



May 4, 1965 W. RITZERFELD ETAL STRIPPER ARRANGEMENT FOR A PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug, 9, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 4, 1965 w. RlTZERFELD ETAL 3,181,459

STRIPPER ARRANGEMENT FOR A PRINTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 Jnvenlars y 1955 w. RITZERFELD ETAL STRIPPER ARRANGEMENT FOR A PRINTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9, 1963 G g a MM E a MN RN a MN a United States Patent 3,181,459 STRHiER ARRANGEMENT FQR A. PRlINTlllG MACHINE Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Schorlemer Alice 14, Berlin-Dahlem,

Germany, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzens'nader Strasse 21, Berlin-Grunewald, Germany Filed Aug. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 301,136 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 13, 1962,

R 33, 19 Claims. (U. 101-1325) The present invention relates to a stripper arrangement for a printing machine, and more particularly to rotary duplicator-s of the type in which the copy sheet is moist ened with alcohol, or in which the printing form is inked.

The present invention is particularly concerned of providing a stripper arrangement for rotary duplicators of the type in which a counter pressure roller is moved to and from a printing position for effecting printing of selected lines or sections of a printing form on the copy sheet in such a manner that the imprints appear adjacent each other on a copy sheet.

In printing and duplicating machines of this type, the copy sheet is transported only while being printed and in engagement with the printing form or master sheet on the printing roller. When an undesired line or section of the printing form passes through the printing line, the counter pressure roller is retracted and the copy sheet is at a standstill. Consequently, contact between the moving printing form on the printing roller, and the stopped copy sheet must be prevented by a suitable stripper arrangernent.

Printing and duplicating machines according to the prior art are provided with stripper fingers which are stationarily arranged adjacent the printing roller for stripping the copy sheet. It is also known to make such stripper fingers angularly displaceable to guide the copy sheet away from the printing form after having engaged the leading edge of the copy sheet. However, the strippers according to the prior art have the disadvantage that the tips of the stripper fingers, and also other parts of the stripper, accumulate ink deposits which are scraped oil the moving copy sheets. Such ink deposits are transferred to other parts of the copy sheets when the same slide over the stripper fingers. In this manner, smudged printed copy sheets are produced which are generally rejected, or at least are considered to be of poor quality. In order to maintain a certain quality of the finished copy, the prior art arrangement requires a frequent cleaning of the stripper fingers whenever the operator notices accumulations of ink. Interruption of the printing operations, and reduced output of the machine were the result.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of stripper arrangements according to the prior art, and to provide a stripper arrangement by which no smudges are made on printed copy sheets Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing machine or rotary duplicator with a stripper arrangement which will not scrape off ink from the copy sheets, and consequently will not accumulate ink deposits.

Another object of the invention is to prevent relative movement between the newly printed portion of a copy sheet and a stripper.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary printing machine with a rotary stripper means which is driven at such a speed that its periphery moves at the same speed as a copy sheet with which the periphery of the stripper means is in contact.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary stripper means which stops when the stripped "ice copy sheet is brought to a standstill during a selective printing operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary printing machine in which a conveyor transports the printed copy sheets, with guide elements which prevent a sliding of the copy sheet on the transporting conveyor while the ink is still wet and the copy sheet is at a standstill.

Another object of the present invention is to operate a stripper arnangement for a rotary duplicating machine in synchronism with the printing roller, and to rotate a rotary stripper in synchronism with the counter pressure roller of the machine.

With these objects in view, the present invention is concerned with a rotary printing machine, preferably of the rotary duplicator type in which copy sheets are moistened with alcohol and pressed by a counter pressure roller against a printing form on a driven printing roller. The printing roller, the printing form thereon and the counter pressure roller constitute printing means for printing and transporting the copy sheet, and in accordance with the present invention driven rotary stripper means are provided for stripping printed copy sheets from the printing means. The rotary stripper includes a plurality of rollers which are rotated in such a direction that the peripheral portions of the stripper rollers rnove in the direction in which the copy sheet is transported by the printing means.

The rotary stripper is preferably connected for rotation with the counter pressure roller, so that it only rotates when the counter pressure roller is rotated. In duplicating machines of the type in which the counter pressure roller is only rotated when in a printing position, but is at a standstill when retracted from the printing form, the rotary stripper stops at the same time. Since the copy sheet comes to a standstill when the counter pressure roller is retracted, the stopping of the rotary stripper prevents a sliding of the periphery of the rotary stripper on the stopped copy sheet. In other words, the rotary stripper rotates intermittently in synchronism with the intermittent movement of the transported copy sheet which is necessitated by the selective printing operations.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, transmission means, such as a pair of gears, connect the counter pressure roller with the rotary stripper for rotation, and the transmission ratio is selected in such a manner that the periphery of the rotary stripper moves at the speed at which the copy sheet is transported by the printing roller and counter pressure roller when the same are in the printing position.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a preliminary stripper is provided with stripper fingers projecting into circumferential grooves in the printing roller. When the leading edge of a printed and transported copy sheet arrives in the region of the stripper fingers, it is stripped off the printing roller and printing form and guided by the stripper fingers to the rotary stripper rollers. The stripper fingers are operated in synchronism with the rotation of the printing roller to Withdraw to a retracted position when the rotary stripper is in contact with the printed copy sheet so that the stationary stripper fingers are no longer contact with the printed copy sheet when the printed portion thereof reaches the region of the printing fingers. Only the unprinted leading edge is stripped by the stripping fingers, while the stripping of the printed part of the copy sheet is effected by the rotary stripper rollers whose peripheral portions, which engage the printed side of the copy sheet, move at the same speed as the copy sheet, so that the moist imprints cannot be smudged. It will be understood that this is due to the prevention of relative movement between tive printing operation.

stripper and copy sheet whichis unavoidable in stationary Strippers according to the prior art. While the stripper fingers which effect the preliminary stripping are also stationary,qthey never contact the imprints n the copy sheet, and consequently cannot cause any smudges on the printed surface of the copy sheet.

The printing machine of the present invention is provided with a conveyor for transporting printed copy sheets back to the front of the machine where the operator inserts blank copy sheets. When newly printed copy sheets are transported by the printing means, they are guided by guide'means to the conveyor. In a printing machine of the type in which the copy sheet is brought to a standstill whenundesired sections of the printing form pass through theprinting line, the partly printed forward end of a copy sheet may be placed in contact with a moving conveyor, while being at a standstill. In such an event, the imprints are smudgcd by the moving conveyor which moves at a high speed.

In accordance with the present invention, the guide means which guide the tripped copy sheet to the conveyor, are operated in synchronism with the operations of the printing means, so that the printed copy sheet is held above the. surface of the moving conveyor until the printing operation has been completed, and the ink has dried. Thereupon, the guide means perform a movement in synchronism-with the printing roller to deposit the printing sheet on the moving conveyor. Since the guide means are at a standstill, they do not smudge the fresh imprints of the copy sheet'when the same is stopped'during a selec- The guide means preferably include a plurality of thin wire elements which contact only very small portions of the copy sheet, while the conveyor includes a-plurality of parallel conveyor bands, permitting a lowering of the wire guide elements below the level'of the conveyor when depositing of the printed copy sheet on the conveyor is to be carried out.

The synchronized operation of the guide elements and of the stripper fingers are derived from cam means which rotate at the same speed as the printing roller preferably mounted onthe same shaft. The cam which controls the movement of the guide element, also control the movement of means for moistening by which the copy sheet is moistened with alcohol before transported into contact with the inked printing form or master sheet.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, presser rollers are provided for pressing the printed copy sheet against the conveyor, and such presser rollers are also controlled by this cam to move to and from an operative 'pressing position in synchronism with the printing operations.

Since the conveyor operates at the substantially higher speed than the printing means, for example at five times the peripheral speed of the printing roller, the finished copy sheet is ejected rapidly toward the front of the machine when pressed by the presser rollers against the conveyor.

The novel features'which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG..1.is a side view of a rotary duplicator provided with the stripping arrangement according to the present invention, conventional elements of the machine being omitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view on an enlarged scale illustrating the arrangement of the guide elements of the present invention, the stripping arrangement being omitted for the sake of clarity; and V FIG. 3 .is a plan view illustrating the printing machine ing position to an inoperative position spacedfrom the printing roller by angular displacement of the support 'lever means7. Such movement may be effected by a cam follower engaging a cam on'shaft 2, as is known to those skilled in the art.

When counter pressure roller 4 is in the printing posi- 7 tion, it forms a printingp'lane AB wit-h printing roller 1 and printing form 3. When a copy sheet is transported 'by a transporting roller 12, 13 to the printing line be tween rollers '1' and 4, it is gripped by the same and transported. During pas-sage of the printing'form or master sheet 3 through the printing line in the printing plane AB, imprints are made on the copy sheet which was moistened by the moistening means 14. The counter pres sure roller is rotated by the printing roller, so that it is not rotated when retracted to an inoperative position spaced from the printing form 3 under the control of the cam which rocks support means 7. The respective cam, not shown, is designed to retract counter pressure roller 4 when undesired sections or lines of the printing form 3 pass through the printing line. At the same time, the transporting rollers 13 and 14 are rendered inoperative or simply stopped so that the copy sheet is stopped. When the printing roller 1 has turned to a position in which a desired section of the printing form 3 approaches the printing line, the counter pressure roller is again moved to its printing position, and the copy sheet is again imprinted and transported by the printing means it, 4. Since the copy sheet was stopped while the counter pressure roller 4 was'in its retracted position, the next imprint is 7 made on the copy sheet directly adjacent the preceding imprint, although the corresponding'text sections of the printing form 3 are spaced from each other'by' intermediate undesired text sections.

The tubular outer peripheral wall of printing roller 1, and the clampingholder 11 are formed with parallel circumferentially extending grooves or slots 10.

A plurality of stripper fingers 8 of a preiiminary strip- 7 per 9 have free ends projecting into the grooves or slots it) when stripper 8 is in a stripping position. Stripper 8 is mounted on a member '7 6 by means of bolts and nuts, and since member 70 has two arms mounted for turning movement on a shaft 23, the stripper 8, 9 can be angularly displaced from the illustrated stripping position to an inoperative position retracted from the grooves 10, as illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 1. 7

One arm of member 70 supports a pivot means which includes a pin and a roller 28 freely turnaole thereon, and located in a slot of a cam follower lever 27 which is mounted for turning movement about a fulcrum pin 26 on the frame of the machine.

A cam 24 is carried by the driven shaft 2 and rotates in synchronism with the printing roller 1. A cam follower roller 25 mounted on cam follower 27 cooperates with cam 24 due to the action of a spring Stlwhich is secured to a pin 29 on cam follower 27 came end thereof, and to a fixed pin 12 on the other end thereof. Due tothe fact'that the slot in cam follower 27 extends at an angle to a circle having its center at the fulcrum 26, angular displacement of cam follower 27 under the control of cam 24 will cause an angular displacement of member 70 with preliminary stripper 3, 9 about shaft 23 in synchronism with'the rotation of printing roller 1. In this manner, the stripper fingers 8 can be retracted after having engaged and stripped the leading edge of a copy sheet after the same has passed through the printing line. The thus stripped leading edge of a copy sheet is guided by the stripper fingers 3 toward a plurality of rotary stripper rollers 18 which are mounted on shaft 23. The position of shaft 23, and the diameter of the stripper rollers 18 are selected in such a manner that a copy sheet which is engaged by the stripper rollers 18 is guided away from stripper fingers 8 and is spaced from the same, irrespective whether the same are in the stripping position or in the retracted position as best seen in FIG. 1.

Stripper rollers 18 are mounted on shaft 23 by means of elastic sleeves 21 which are fitted to the hubs of the stripper rollers, and resiliently engage shaft 23. The elastic sleeves 21 couple the stripper rollers 18 to shaft 23 for rotation therewith, but permit an axial adjustment of the stripper rollers 18 on shafit 23. The construction of the stripper rollers is best seen in FIG. 3.

Shaft 23 is mounted in bearings of a pair of brackets 22 which are secured to the support levers 7 of counter pressure roller 4 so that the preliminary stripper 8, 9 and the rotary stripper means 18, 23 move with counter pressure roller 4 toward and away from the printing roller when support levers '7 are angularly displaced.

Another cam 34 is mounted on the driven shaft 2, and cooperates with a cam follower 37 having a follower roller 34. Cam follower 37 is secured to shaft 56 on which moistening means 14 with pad 59 are mounted. A lever 38 having a forked end is clamped by a threaded bolt to shaft 36 so as to turn with cam follower 37. A pivot pin 39 connects member 33 with a link 40. A guide pin 61 is secured to another link 62 and projects through a slot a link 40. A spring 63 connects pins 39 and 63 so that the length of the combined link 46, 62 can be expanded. A second guide slot is provided at the end of link 49 to receive another guide pin 41 carried by a lever 42. Lever 42 is mounted on a shaft 43 whose other end carries a fixed lever 45 to which a long link 47 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 46. A stop 6 limits turning movement of lever 42, and determines the distance which link 47 is displaced.

Link 47 is pivotally connected by a pin 48 with a lever mounted on a pivot pin 49 secured to a frame wall of the machine. A smaller bell crank lever 54 has two arms 52, 53 and is freely turnable on pivot pin 49. A corresponding lever arrangement 54, 50 is mounted on a corresponding pivot means 49 on the other frame wall 33 of the machine, and a rod connects the ends of the short lever arms 53. A plurality of curved wire guide elements 19 is fixedly secured to rod 55 and consequently rigidly secured to bell crank lever 54. The longer arms 52 exert a turning movement in one direction, and the shorter arms 53 and a portion of the guide elements 19 exert a turning movement in the opposite direction, and the member 54, 19, S5 is balanced so that arm 53 abuts a pin 51 on lever 50. However, guide elements 19 can be freely turned with cell crank lever 54 in counterclockwise direction.

When link 47 is shifted from the position illustrated in solid lines to the position illustrated in chain lines in FIG. 2, lever 50 is displaced with guide elements 19 which move from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in chain lines in which the free ends of guide elements 19 are located between spaced conveyor bands 26 passing about rollers, one of which is driven to move the conveyor means 20 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2. Since the curved wire guide elements 19 are located above the level of the conveyer bands 20 in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, a copy sheet supported thereon is not in contact with the rapidly moving conveyor band 29. However, when the lobe 58 of cam 34 becomes effective and the guide elements are lowered, the copy sheet is placed by the guide elements on the conveyer bands which rapidly carry the same toward the front of the machine Where the blank copy sheet was inserted by the operator. The speed of conveyor band 20 is preferably about five times the peripheral speed of printing roller 1.

Shaft 43 on which levers 42 and 45 are mounted, is supported in bearing brackets of a fixed support plate 4-4. Shaft 43 turnably supports a plurality of presser arms 33 on which presser rollers 32 are mounted. Only two arms and rollers 32, 33 are shown in FIG. 3 to cooperate with two conveyor bands 20, but a greater number may be provided. Short arms 56 are fixedly carried by shaft 43 and cooperate with pins 57 secured to, and projecting from arms 33. When shaft 43 is turned by lever dzunder the control of cam 34, presser arms 32, 33 turn from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in chain lines in FIG. 2 so that the presser rollers 32 abut the surface of the corresponding conveyer band Zil to press a copy sheet deposited by guide elements 19 against the conveyor bands.

The apparatus is operated as follows: The operator places a blank copy sheet 15 on a support and guides its leading edge between the transporting rollers l2, l3 and under pad 59 of moistening means 14. Since cam follower roller 35 is located on the cam lobe of cam 34, all parts are in the position indicated by chain lines in FIG. 2, and the moistening means 14, 15 is raised. The support means '7 of counter pressure roller 4 are operated by a cam, not shown, on shaft 2 to move counter pressure roller 4 to the illustrated printing and transporting position in which the leading edge of the copy sheet 15 is gripped and transported.

During the continued rotation of printing roller 1 in clockwise direction, gripper fingers 8 move in slots 10 of printing roller 1 while being approached by the clamped edge of printing form 3. Printing form 3 engages the leading end of the supplied copy sheet 15 in the region of the printing line, and when the first desired line or text section on printing form 3 passes through the printing line, an imprint is made on copy sheet 15. When the leading edge of the copy sheet arrives in the region of the stripper fingers 8, it is stripped from the printing form 3 and guided toward the stripper rollers 18. A gear 17 is fixed on shaft 23 and meshes with a larger gear 16 on shaft 5 of counter pressure roller 4. The transmission 16, 17 has such a ratio that the peripheral rims of stripper rollers 13 move at the same speed as a copy sheet transported by printing roller 1 and counter pressure roller 4. The stripper rollers 18 are disposed to guide the copy sheets away from stripper fingers 3 so that the stripper fingers 8 do not come into contact with the imprints on the copy sheet made somewhat spaced from the leading edge of the copy sheet which is stripped and guided by the stripper fingers 8. After stripper rollers 38 have engaged the copy sheet and perform the stripping function, cam 24 assumes a position in which cam follower means 27, 25 are angularly displaced by spring 30 whereby roller 28 is moved by the slot in cam follower 27 to a lower position, turning member '70 with the preliminary stripper 9, 3 to the lower position indicated in chain lines in FIG. 1 so that the stripper fingers are retracted from the region of printing roller l and printing form 3. In this position of stripper fingers 8, the copy sheet guided by the peripheral portions of the rotary printing rollers 18 is spaced from the stripper fingers.

Since stripper finger-s 8 do not engage any part of the copy sheet on which fresh moist imprints are made, the stripper fingers 8 cannot scrape any ink from the copy sheets and therefore no deposits of ink can form on the preliminary stationary stripper. When the imprints pass the rotary stripper means 18, there is no relative movement between the peripheral rims of stripper rollers 13 and the surface of the copy sheet, and consequently no scraping or smudging effect can be exerted by the rotary stripper rollers 18.

Since the duplicator to which the invention is applied is designed for selective printing, the counter pressure roller 4 is moved to a position spaced from printing roller 1, and more particularly from printing form 3 when an undesired line or section of the printing form 3 passes through the printing line. Since counter pressure roller 4 is driven by engagement with the printing roller 1, it does not turn when retracted from the same and placed in a spaced inoperative position. The copy sheet also stops, since it is transported by the coaction of printing roller 1 with counter pressure roller 4 when the latter is in the printing position. In this stop position of the copy sheet, the undesired section of the printing form- 3 passes the printing line. When the next desired section of the printing form follows, counter pressure roller 4 isautomatically moved back to the printing position, and the desired section of the printing form-is printed adjacent the previously made imprints on the copy sheet.

While the copy sheet is at a standstill, continued rotation of stripper rollers 18 would cause smudging of imprints engaged by the peripheral rims of the stripper rollers.

However, as explained above, the shaft 23 of stripper rollers 18'is connected by transmission means 16, 17

to counterpressure roller 4, and at the same moment at which counter pressure roller stops, and the copy sheet comes to a standstill, stripper rollers 18 also stop, so that no smudging is possible. When counter pressure roller 4-is moved back to the printing and transporting position, and is turned by printing roller 1, stripper rollers 18 are again driven to turn at the proper speed.

The leading edge of the stripped copy sheet'lfi engages the wire guide elements 1%, and curves along the same.

During the printing operation, the wire guide elements 19- are in the higher position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 2, so that the copy sheet is'supported thereon above the level'of the rapidly moving conveyor means 2%. The guide elements 19 are thin and spaced from each other so that they cannot produce smudges when engaging the imprints on transported and stripped copy sheets. When the copy sheet stops in the inoperative position of the counter pressure roller it is still supported on the guide elements 19, and cannot be smudged which would be the case if the copy sheet would be directly placed on the rapidly moving conveyor bands 2%. In this event, the stopped copy sheet would be in contact with the moving conveyor surface, and the imprints would be smudged. Only when the imprints are sufficiently dry at'the end of a revolution of the printing roller, cam lobe 58 becomes effective to lower guide elements i to the position shown in chain lines in FIG. 2 so that the copy sheet is deposited on the conveyor band 29. When cam follower 3'7, 35 is turned to the position shown in chain lines, levers 38, 4d, 62 and 42 also turn so that link 4-7 turns lever means 56, 54 with guide elements 19, while presser arms 33 turn with presser rollers 32to a position holding the deposited copy sheet firmly on the surface of conveyor band so that the copy sheet is ejected on the side of the machine where the operator works. The moistening means 14 are simul taneously raised, and'the machine assumes a position ready for the next operation.

Due to the fact that the moistening pad 59 is worn oif after prolonged use, the stroke of lever fid'isincreased due to the action of spring 60 acting on moistening means 14. This would cause turning of the guide element 19 to a position farther away, from conveyor means 2% than desired for a proper operation. In order to overcome this difiiculty, links 49 and 62 are connected by spring 63 and form an expandable member. Due to the automatic adjustment of the length of member 44 62, 63, the angular displacement of guide elements 1%, and particularly the upper position of the same, can be determined by'the fixed stop 64.

1 If for some reason the guide elements 19 are operated by a cam 34, 58 to move to the lower position while a sheet lies on conveyor bands 20 below guideelements 19,

guide elements 19 pivot freely with bell crank lever 34 in counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, so that any damage to the delicate guide elements 19 is prevented.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of printing machines differing from the types described above.

. While the'invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a stripper arrangement including a preliminary stationary stripper for stripping the leading edgeof a copy sheet from the printing means and a rotary stripper for stripping the imprinted portion of the copy. sheet, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 7 7

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully. reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a rotaryprinting roller means; a rotary counterpressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means; drive means for rotating said printing roller means; support means supporting said counterpressure roller means formovement between an operative position forming a printing line with said printing roller means so as to be rotated by the same for printing and for transporting acopy sheet at a given speed in one direction corresponding-tea selected directionof rotation of'said counterpressure roller means and to an opposite direction of said printing roller means, and an inoperative position in which said counterpressure roller means is at a standstill and said copy sheet is not printed and transported; rotary stripper means mounted on said support means; and'transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller means for rotation in opposite directions so that a peripheral portion of said stripper means moves in said direction at said given speed'while said counterpressure roller means rotates in said operative position, and stops when said counterpressure'roller means and the copy sheet stop, said peripheral'portion being disposed so as to be engaged by copy sheets intermittently transported by said printing roller means and said counter pressure roller means in said operative position for guiding transported printed copy sheets away from said printing roller'means whereby said copy sheets are stripped from said printing roller means whereby relative movement between said rotary stripper means and said copy sheets is prevented.

2. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a rotary printing roller means; a rotary counterpressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means; drive means for rotating said printing roller means; support means supporting said counterpressure roller means for movement between an operative position forming a printing line with said printing roller means so as to be rotated by the same for printing and for transporting'a copy sheet in one direction corresponding to a selected direction of rotation of said counterpressure roller means and to an opposite direction of said printingroller means, and an inoperative position in which said counterpressure roller means is at a standstill and said copy sheet is not printed and transported; a preliminary stripper for strip ping and guiding the leading edge of a printed copy sheet from said printing roller means; rotary stripper means disposed to contact with the peripheral portion thereof copy sheets whose leading edges are stripped and guided by said preliminary stripper so as to strip the entire copy sheet from said printing roller means; means for moving said preliminary stripper relative to said rotary stripper means to a retracted position spaced from a copy sheet guided and stripped by said rotary stripper means so that only the leading edge of each copy sheet is engaged by said preliminary stripper and transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller means for rotation in opposite directions so that said peripheral portion of said stripper means moves in said direction, said peripheral portion being disposed for stripping printed copy sheets from said printing roller means, said rotary stripper means stripping with said copy sheet when aid counterpressure roller means stops in said inoperative position whereby relative movement between said preliminary stripper and said rotary stripper means, and the printed portions of the copy sheets is prevented.

3. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a rotary printing roller means; a rotary counterpressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means; drive means for rotating said printing roller means; support means supporting said counterpressure roller means for movement between an operative position forming a printing line With said printing roller means so as to be rotated by the same for printing and for transporting a copy sheet in one direction corresponding to a selected direction of rotation of said counterpressure roller means and to an opposite direction of said printing roller means, and an inoperative position in which said counterpressure roller means is at a standstill and said copy sheet is not printed and transported; a preliminary stripper for stripping and guiding the leading edge of a printed copy sheet from said printing roller means; cam means driven by said drive means to rotate in synchronism with said printing roller means and connected to said preliminary stripper for moving the same between a stripping position and a retracted position; rotary stripper means disposed to contact with the peripheral portion thereof copy sheets whose leading edges are stripped and guided by said preliminary stripper in said stripping position so as to strip the entire copy sheet from said printing roller means and to hold the copy sheet spaced from said preliminary stripper in said retracted position, said cam means moving said preliminary stripper means to said retracted position when said rotary stripper means engages said copy sheets so that only the leading edge of each copy sheet is engaged by said preliminary stripper and transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller means for rotation in opposite directions so that a peripheral portion of said stripper means moves in said direction, at the same speed as the periphery of said counterpressure roller means and as the copy sheet said peripheral portion being disposed for stripping printed copy sheets from said printing roller means, said rotary stripper means stopping with said copy sheet when said counterpressure roller means stops in said inoperative position whereby relative movement between said preliminary stripper and said rotary stripper means, and the printed portions of the copy sheets is prevented.

4. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a rotary printing roller means having circumferentially extending grooves; a rotary counterpressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means; drive means for rotating said printing roller means; support means supporting said counterpressure roller means for movement between an operative position forming a printing line with said printing roller means so as to be rotated by the same for printing and for transporting a copy sheet in one direction corresponding to a selected direction of rotations of said counterpressure roller means and to an opposite direction of said printing roller means, and an inoperative position in which said counterpressure roller means is at a standstill and said copy sheet is not printed and transported; a preliminary stripper mounted on said support means and having a plurality of stripper fingers lid for stripping and guiding the leading edge of a printed copy sheet from said printing roller means; cam means driven by said drive means to rotate in synchronism with said printing roller means and connected to said prelimi nary stripper for moving the same between a stripping position in which said stripper fingers are located in said grooves of said printing roller means and a retracted position located outside of said grooves, said cam means moving said stripper fingers to said retracted position directly after the leading edge of said copy sheet has been stripped by said preliminary stripper in said stripping position so that only said leading edge is engaged by said preliminary stripper, rotary stripper means including a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said support means respectively located between said stripper fingers and disposed to contact with the peripheral portion thereof copy sheets stripped and guided by said preliminary stripper in said stripping position so as to strip the entire copy sheet from said printing roller means and to hold the copy sheet spaced from said preliminary stripper in said retracted position; and transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller means for rotation in opposite directions so that said peripheral portion of said stripper means moves in said direction, said peripheral portion being disposed for stripping printed copy sheets from said printing roller means, said rotary stripper means stopping with said copy sheet when said counterpressure roller means stops in said in operative position whereby relative movement between said preliminary stripper and said rotary stripper means, and the printed portions of the copy sheets is prevented.

5. A printing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rotary stripper means includes a shaft mounted on said support means, driven by said transmission means and supporting said rollers for shifting movement along the same; wherein said preliminary stripper is mounted on said shaft for pivotal movement between said stripping and retracted positions; and including cam follower means operable by said cam means and connected with said preliminary stripper for moving the same between said positions thereof.

6. A printing machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cam follower means includes a lever having a slot; and wherein said preliminary stripper includes a part guided in said slot, said slot being disposed so that operation of said cam follower means and of said lever by said cam means causes turning of said preliminary stripper about said shaft to said retracted position in which said stripper fingers are located outside of said grooves and spaced from the copy sheet stripped by said rotary stripper means.

7. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, printing means for printing and intermittently transporting a copy sheet; stripper means for stripping printed copy sheets from said printing means; conveyor means including a plurality of spaced continuously moving conveyor bands; guide means including a plurality of guide elements respectively located between said conveyer bends and adapted to guide stripped copy sheets toward the same, said guide elements being movable between a lower position projecting below said conveyor bands and a higher position located above the level of the same for maintaining each copy sheet spaced from said moving conveyor means when the copy sheet is at a standstill during its intermittent transport whereby smudging of the copy sheet is prevented; and means for moving said guide elements between said positions in synchronism with the operation of said printing means.

8. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, printing means for printing and intermittently transporting a copy sheet; a preliminary stripper for stripping and guiding the leading edge of a printed copy sheet from said printing means; rotary stripper means disposed to contact copy sheets stripped and guided by said preliminmy stripper so as to strip the entire copy sheet from said printing means; conveyer means including a plurality of spaced continuously moving conveyor bands; guide means including a plurality of guide elements respectively located between said conveyor bands and adapted to guide stripped copy sheets toward the same, said guide elements being movable between .a lower position projecting be low said conveyer bands and a higher position located above the level of the same for maintaining each copy sheet spaced from said moving conveyer means when the copy sheet is at a standstill during its intermittent transport whereby smudging of the copy sheet is prevented; vand means for moving said guide elements between said positions in synchronism with the operation of said printing means.

9. In a rotary printing machine,'in combination, a rotary printing roller means having circumferentially eX- tending grooves; a rotary counterpressure roller means cooperating with said printing roller means; drive means for rotating said printing roller means; support means supporting said counterpressure roller means for movement between an operative position forming a printing line with said printing roller means so as to be rotated by the same for printing and for transporting a copy sheet in one direction corresponding to a selected direction of rotation of said counterpressure roller means and to an opposite direction of said printing roller means, and an inoperative position in which said counterpressure roller means is at a standstill and said copy sheet is not printed and transported; a preliminary stripper mounted on said support means and having a plurality of stripping fingers for stripping and guiding the leading edge of a printed copy sheet from said printing roller means; cam means driven by said drive means to rotate in synchronism with said printing roller means and connected to said preliminary stripper for moving the same between a stripping position in which said stripper fingers are located in said grooves of said printing roller means and a retracted position; rotary stripper means including a plurality of rollers rotatably supported on said support means respectively located between said stripper fingers anddisposed to contact with the peripheral portion thereof copy sheets stripped and guided by said preliminary stripper in said stripping position so as to strip the entirecopy sheet from said printing roller means and to hold the copy sheet spaced from said preliminary stripper in said retracted position; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller means for rotation in opposite directions so that a peripheral portion of said stripper means moves in said direction, said peripheral portion being disposed for stripping printed copy sheets from said printing roller means, said rotary stripper means stopping when said counterpressure roller means stops in said inoperative position; conveyor means including a plurality of spaced continuously moving conveyor bands; guide means including a plurality of curved guide elements respectively alternating with said conveyer bands and adapted to guide stripped copy sheets toward the same, said guide elements being movable between a lower position in which the ends thereof project below said conveyor bands and a higher position located above the level of the same for maintaining the copy sheet spaced from said moving conveyer bands when the copy sheet is at a standstill whereby smudging of the copy is prevented; and other cam means driven by said drive means in synchron-ism with said printing roller means and connected to said guide means for moving said guide elements between said positions in synchronism with the movement 'of said 'counterpressure roller means and of said prelimi-' i2 ment between an operative position forming a printing line with said printing roller means so as to be rotated by the same for printing and for transporting a copy sheet in one direction corresponding to a selected direction of rotation of said counterpressure roller means and to an opposite direction of said printing roller means, and an inoperative position in which said counterpressure roller means is at a standstill and said copy sheet is not printed and transported; a preliminary stripper mounted on said support means and having a plurality of stripping fingers for stripping and guiding therleading edge' of a printed copy sheet from saidrprinting roller means; cam means drivenby said drive means to rotate in synchronism with said printing roller means and connected to said prelimii nary stripper for moving the same between a stripping position in which said stripper fingers are located in said grooves of said printing roller means and a retracted posi-' stripped and guided by said preliminary stripper in said stripping position so as to strip the entire copy sheet from said printing roller means and to hold the copy sheet spaced from said preliminary stripper in said retracted position; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller means for rotation in opposite directions so that said peripheral portion of said stripper means moves in said direction, said peripheral portion being disposed for stripping printed copy sheets from said printing roller means, saidrota'ry stripper means stopping when said counterpressure roller means stops in said inoperative position; conveyor means including a plurality of spaced continuously moving conveyer bands; presser rollers movable between a retracted position and a pressing position cooperating with said conveyer bands;lmoistening means having a moistening position for moistening copy sheets before passing through said printing line; guide means including a plurality of curved guide elements respectively alternating with said conveyer bands and adapted to guide stripped copy sheets toward the same, said guideelements being movable etween a lower position in which the ends thereof project below said conveyor bands and a higher position located above the level or" the same for maintaining the copy sheet spaced from said moving conveyer bands when the copy sheet is at a standstill whereby smudging of the copy sheet is prevented; other cam means driven by said drive means in synchronism with said printing roller means; a cam follower means cooperating with said other cam means and means connecting said cam follower means with said moistening means 'for'moving the same to and from said moistening position, with said presser rollers for moving the same between said retracted and pressing positions, and with said guide means for moving said guide elements between said positions in synchronism with the movement of said coun-terpre'ssure roller means and of said preliminary stripper.

.11. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure roller having a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterprcssure roller and said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary strippermeans; trans-mission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction While said counterpressure roller is rota-ted in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop; preliminary stripper means for engaging and guiding a transported copy sheet to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means; and control means for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronism with the rotation of said printing roller to a position spaced from said copy sheet when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper means whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented.

12. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure roller; support means supporting said counterpressnre roller for movement between a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary stripper means; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction While said counterpressure roller is rotated in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop; preliminary stripper means having a stripping position disposed to engage the leading edge of a transported copy sheet and to guide the same to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means, and an inoperative position spaced from said copy sheet while the same is guided by said rotary stripper means; and control means for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronism with the rotation of said printing roller so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said stripping position for guiding said leading edge of a copy sheet transported by said printing roller and counterpressure roller toward said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means and so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said inoperative position when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper means whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented.

13. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure roller; support means supporting said counterpressure printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary stripper means mounted on said support means; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction while said counterpressure roller is rotated in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop; preliminary stripper means mounted on said support means having a stripping position disposed to engage the leading edge of a transported copy sheet and to guide the same to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means, and an inoperative position spaced from said copy sheet While the same is guided by said rotary stripper means; and control means for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronism with the rotation of said printing roller so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said stripping position for guiding said leading edge of a copy sheet transported by said printing roller and counterpressure roller toward said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means and so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said inoperative position when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper means whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented.

14. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure roller; support means supporting said counterpressure roller for movement between a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary stripper means; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction while said counterpressure roller is rotated in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop; preliminary stripper means having a stripping position disposed to engage the leading edge of a transported copy sheet and to guide the same to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means, and an inoperative position spaced from said copy sheet while the same is guided by said rotary stripper means; and control means including cam means driven in synchronisrn with said printing roller, and cam follower means operated by said cam means and connected with said preliminary stripper means for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronism with the rotation of said printing roller so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said stripping position for guiding said leading edge of a copy sheet transported by said printnig roller and counterpressure roller toward said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means and so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said inoperative position when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper mean whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented.

15. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure roller; support means supporting said counterpressure roller for movement between a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary stripper means mounted on said support means; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction while said counterpressure roller is rotated in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop; preliminary stripper means having a stripping position disposed to engage the leading edge of a transported copy sheet and to guide the same to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means, and an inoperative position spaced from said copy sheet while the same is guided by said rotary stripper means; and control means including cam means driven in synchronism with said printing roller, a cam follower lever operated by said cam means and having a slot, and a lever connected to said preliminary stripper means and having slide pin guided in said slot for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronisrn with the rotation of said printing roller so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said stripping position for guiding said leading edge of a copy sheet transported by said printing roller and counterpressure roller toward said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means and so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said inoperative position when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper means whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented.

16. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller having at least one circumferenemas entially extending groove; a'rotary counter pressure roller; support means supporting said counterpressure roller for movementbetween a printing position forming a printing.

line with said printing roller was to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position'spaced from s'aid'printingroller in which said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet are at' a standstill; rotary Cit disposed to engage the leading edge of a transported copy sheet and to guide the same to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means, and an inoperative position located outside of said groove spaced from said copy sheet while the same is guided by said'rotary stripper means; and control means for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronism with the rotation of said printing roller so that said preliminary stripper'means is moved to said stripping position for guidin'gsaid leading edge of a copy sheet transported by said printing roller and counterpressure roller toward said peripheral portionot said rotary stripper means and so that said'preliminary stripper means is moved to said inoperative'position when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper means whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented.

17. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller having at least one circumferentially extending groove; a rotary counter pressure roller; support means supporting said counterpressure roller for movement between a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary stripper means mounted on said support means; transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction while said counterpressure roller is rotated in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop; preliminary stripper means mounted on said support means having a stripping position projecting into said groove disposed to engage the leading edge of a transported copy sheet and to guide the same to a position engaging said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means, and an inoperative position located outside of said groove spaced from said sopy sheet while the same is guided by said'rotary stripper means; and control means including cam means driven in synchronism with said printing roller, a cam follower lever operated by said cam means and having a slot, and a lever connected to said preliminary stripper means and havingslide pin guided 7.5 in said slot for moving said preliminary stripper means in synchronism with the rotation of said printing roller so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said stripping position for guiding said leading edge of a copy a sheet transported by said printing roller and counterpressure roller toward said peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means and so that said preliminary stripper means is moved to said inoperative position when said copy sheet is engaged by said rotary stripper means whereby relative movement between a printed portion of said copy sheet and said preliminary and rotary stripper means is prevented. V

18. in a rotary printing machine, in combination, a driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure roller having a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated by the same for printing and transporting a copy'sheet at a given speed in one direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counterpressure rollerand said copy sheet are at a standstill; rotary stripper means having a peripheral portion disposed to guide a transported copy sheet and to strip the samefrom said printing roller; and transmission meansconnecting said rotary stripper means with'said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the'periph'eral portion of said' rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in 'saiddirection while said counterpressure roller'is rotated in said printing position and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop whereby relative movement between said peripheral portion anda printed portion of said copy sheet is prevented.

19. In a rotary printing machine, in combination, a

driven rotary printing roller; a rotary counter pressure.

roller having a printing position forming a printing line with said printing roller so as to be rotated'bythe same for printing and transporting a copy sheet at a given speed in one'direction, and an inoperative position spaced from said printing roller in which said counter pressure roller and said copy sheet are at a'standstill; rotary stripper means mountedon said supporting means for movement with said counterpressure roller and having aperipheral portion disposed to guide a transported copy sheet and to strip the same from said printing roller; and transmission means connecting said rotary stripper means with said counterpressure roller for synchronous rotation so that the peripheral portion of said rotary stripper means moves at said given speed in said direction while said counterpressure roller is rotated in said printing posi tion and stops when said counterpressure roller and said copy sheet stop whereby relative movement between said' peripheral portion and a printed portion of said copy sheet is prevented.

References Cited'by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,699 5/34 Russell 101232' 1,993,557 3/35 Marchev l01-l32 2,075,950 4/37 Marchev et al 101-132 2,758,539 8/56 Ritzerfeld et al 101132 X EUGENE R. CAFOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, A ROTARY PRINTING ROLLER MEANS; A ROTARY COUNTERPRESSURE ROLLER MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID PRINTING ROLLER MEANS; DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID PRINTING ROLLER MEANS; DRIVE MEANS SUPPORTING SAID COUNTERPRESSURE ROLLER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE POSITION FORMING A PRINTING LINE WITH SAID PRINTING ROLLER MEANS SO AS TO BE ROTATED BY THE SAME FOR PRINTING AND FOR TRANSPORTING A COPY SHEET AT A GIVEN SPEED IN ONE DIRECTION CORRESPONDING TO A SELECTED DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID COUNTERPRESSURE ROLLER MEANS AND TO AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF SAID PRINTING ROLLER MEANS, AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH SAID COUNTERPRESSURE ROLLER MEANS IS AT A STANDSTILL AND SAID COPY SHEET IS NOT PRINTED AND TRANSPORTED; ROTARY STRIPPER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS; AND TRANSMISSION MEANS CONNECTING SAID ROTARY STRIPPER MEANS WITH SAID COUNTERPRESSURE ROLLER MEANS FOR ROTATION IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS SO THAT A PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID STRIPPER MEANS MOVES IN SAID DIRECTION 